“Of course. We shall go now.”
They bit the bait!
“Will you be all right alone?”
“Sure. I’ll survive until you get back. I’ll just take it easy on the couch.”
Evangeline watched through the window. Tommy’s car turned onto the main street. Her stomach was so raw. This nausea was unbelievable. It felt like a hole was burning in her belly. But it was nothing compared to the horrid cramping spells she suffered over the past few weeks. Her breasts were sensitive; they tingled and burned every time she walked through the frozen food section at the grocery store.
Jogging up the stairs, Evangeline tore into her bathroom cabinet. She had to find the box of pregnancy tests Taryn had given to her as a joke. Her best friend had kept her poolside promise, buying the diagnostic tools shortly after learning she had unprotected sex with Dorien. But right this moment, Evangeline wasn’t laughing. There was no way she could be pregnant.
Having repeated unprotected sex with a man who had the stamina of a raging bull would be no big shocker. But Dorien was immortal. Immortals couldn’t father children, could they? She didn’t think so. There had to be another explanation.
If she was pregnant, would their baby be healthy? Her heart tightened with fear. Would she give birth to some genetic accident? Her symptoms had to be a coincidence. She just had her period last...oh…how long had it been? Pacing the floor, she fought for memory. Running into her room, she searched the calendar on the wall. She always kept track of her cycle. Today was August nineteenth. She hadn’t had a period since…June twenty-second!
She threw items from the bathroom cabinet like a woman possessed. Where was that bag of pregnancy tests? Hearing a crinkle, she exhaled in relief. Opening the box, she winced at the sight of twelve ghastly blue and white test sticks. Rolling her eyes, she should have known better. Taryn sure knew how to make a statement. Flushing the toilet, Evangeline set her cup on the marble counter and dipped her test stick, placing it on the swirled marble counter top. The hollow thuds of her pace was more than she could handle.
She couldn’t wait the full two minutes!
Evangeline ran to the counter and snatched up the test stick. Her stare searched in panic for any hint of a result. Blinking at the bright pink plus sign staring back at her, she dropped the stick as if it had bit her. Shaking her head in stunned silence, her hands fumbled all over the counter. She rationalized in desperation.
That one had to be broken!
Peeling open another test strip, she dipped it heartily. This time she didn’t bother setting it on the counter. Now she had two pink plus signs mocking her! After the twelfth test strip, Evangeline screamed. She resigned herself to mass panic, crying over the heaping pile of plus signs. Tears burned her eyes. What was she going to do? What would Dorien say? Would he leave her? Would he blame her for being so careless? Not once did he ever ask if she was using protection! He must have also assumed they couldn’t create a child together.
She had to stay cool. She couldn’t arouse Dorien’s suspicions. Would he guess her condition when he found her sick for weeks to come? Her hands cradled her belly. Looking in the mirror, she could see it, the roundness under her navel. Her breasts were full and swollen. No wonder she hadn’t fit into her costume dress! This was why her jeans wouldn’t zip. But wasn’t it too early to be showing? Certainly not for another few weeks. How far along was she?
Maybe she could keep the baby under wraps until she figured things out. But Dorien could read her thoughts. Come to think of it, he read everyone’s thoughts. She had to throw his trail off until she knew how to break the news. He and Tommy would be back from the store at any moment. Taryn was a doctor. She would know just what to do.
Chapter Sixteen
“Hello, Evangeline!”
“Taryn, are you busy right now? You must get over to my house now!”
“Well…”
“Taryn, get over here now…and hurry! This is a full-fledged 9-1-1 emergency!” Evangeline hung up the phone and glanced at her watch. With Taryn’s driving, it should take her about four minutes. In three minutes, horns blared and tires squealed. The front door swung open and slammed shut. The sound of stomping footsteps beat against the stairs. Taryn burst into her bedroom. Her chest heaved. She tried to catch her breath.
“This had better be good or I’m going to kick your…”
Evangeline brushed past Taryn into the bathroom. Taryn followed, right on her heels.
“Evan, what in the world is going on?”
Evangeline spilled the bag of positive pregnancy tests into the sink. Taryn’s jaw dropped.
“This is a joke right? A baby? A little baby? My best friend is going to be a Mummy? I’m going to be an Auntie?”
Evangeline nodded her head like a bobble head. Tears filled her eyes. Taryn’s warm hands rested against her lower belly.
”Okay. I’m a doctor in residency! Go lie down on the bed. I’ll palpate your belly and see if I can feel anything. I’m not going to give you an internal exam because, well, that’s just weird between friends.”
Evangeline ran and laid on the bed. Taryn pressed against her womb. Taryn’s eyes got big and round. “You have a good sized grapefruit in there, friend. Congratulations! You’re definitely pregnant, Evan. Have you told Dorien yet?”
“No! I’m not ready to tell him! Please promise me you won’t say anything. I haven’t even absorbed this yet. You must promise.”
“You are quite aware that Dorien will figure this out, Evan? His mind tricks…”
The front door slammed shut. Both of them looked towards the bedroom door in unison.
“Oh, no! Tell him you’re pregnant. We can go see your mum right now. What do you say, Taryn?”
“I say you owe me a favor.” Taryn winked.
“Remember, he’s good at reading people’s minds. Convince yourself that these tests are yours. You’re having the baby. Don’t put me anywhere in your thoughts. You have to try.”
“Okay, Okay, Evan! I got it.”
Evangeline flew off the bed. They ran back into the bathroom.
In a silent instant, Dorien smiled in the doorway. Evangeline and Taryn both squealed in surprise. Taryn’s hand flew to her heart.
“Dorien! You scared me. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Dorien’s face was filled with wonder. He chewed with such exuberance. Never had green spearmint chewing gum looked so fun. Glancing from Evangeline to Taryn, he blew an impressive bubble.
“What are you girls doing?” His attention caressed Evangeline’s face. “How about you? Are you any better, love?” His muscled arms wrapped tight around her. His hands splayed in innocence over her lower belly. Evangeline felt her eyes might bug out of their sockets.
Taryn moved and stood beside her. “I’m having a personal crisis, Dorien. I thought I would talk to Evan about it. You know…girl stuff.”
Dorien noticed the pile of sticks in the sink. He picked one up and held it by the tips of his pale fingers. Taking a whiff, he wrinkled his nose in disgust.
“What in Hades are these?”
Did the smell of urine make him turn his head? Evangeline’s stomach clenched tight. Her tummy rumbled. She hoped she wouldn’t toss her cookies again.
Taryn grabbed the stick from his hand. “These pregnancy tests are mine. You pee on them and they tell you if you’re pregnant. Well, what do you know…I’m, ummm, pregnant.”
“A baby?” Dorien blinked at Taryn. He stared at her in deep concentration.
“Yes, Dorien. A baby. It happens to women all the time.”
Dorien narrowed his eyes. “The urine, it doesn’t smell like you. It smells more like Evan.”
Evangeline and Taryn both sucked in a horrified breath.
“That’s because I had her pee on the stick first…to see if it worked.
Taryn glared at Evangeline. She could tell her best friend wanted to slap her. Evangeline stood rod straight. Her knees hurt.
Dorien was still concentr
ating. It was as if he tried to hear any sounds from Taryn’s body. His face filled with sudden shock. “Taryn, you had better get over to see your mum now. I think you are pregnant.”
“What are you talking about?” Taryn cried, forgetting her ruse.
Evangeline’s heart thundered in her chest.
“Let’s just say that if you are pregnant, you are carrying more than one baby.”
Evangeline leaned against Taryn for support. Her whole body went numb.
Chapter Seventeen
“Evan! He said he could smell your urine. That is bloody insane! How could he do that?”
Evangeline began to cry. I didn’t matter Taryn’s car air conditioner was blowing in her face. The cold blast wasn’t enough to soothe her. “I don’t know! That’s like asking how he can read people so well.” Evangeline wished she could tell Taryn the truth. But she would never understand Dorien’s special abilities.
“Hey, now, love! Everything is going to be all right.”
“I’m sorry. I just feel so emotional right now.”
“Of course you do. You’re having a baby, or babies, if Dorien’s right. Somehow I trust his judgment.”
Evangeline sobbed harder. “What if there is more than one? What am I going to do?”
“Well, you are a twin yourself, Evan! You and Dorien will do just fine! You’ll do this together.” Taryn picked up her cell phone and placed the call on speaker. “I’m calling Mum to schedule you in right away.”
“Good Afternoon, Dr. Eliza’s office. How may I help you?”
“Good day, Cindy. This is Taryn. Is my Mum available? This is an emergency.”
“Yes, Miss. Please hold. I’ll connect you.”
“Taryn, darling, this is Mum. What’s going on?”
“Mum, Evan and I are on our way to your office. This is important. You need to examine her. I guess you can say she is a little…sick.”
“Taryn, is Evan in trouble? Tell Mummy what’s going on. Does she think she has an infection?”
“No Mum, no infection. We will be there in a few minutes.”
“Alright, darling, I’ll be waiting. Just come straight through the office when you get here.”
“We’re right around the corner.”
They ran inside the clinic. Cindy was cute as ever. Puppy dogs littered her pink and yellow scrubs. Her chubby cheeks were joyful. They shined as bright as Rudolph’s nose. She motioned for them to follow. Stopping outside the restroom, Cindy handed her a cup.
“Okay, Evan, leave your sample in the cabinet. When you’re finished, please go ahead and take exam room four. I’ve already placed your gown on the table, so when you get in there, please remove all of your clothes and put on the gown. Dr. Eliza will be with you in a few minutes.”
“Thank you, Cindy.” Evangeline mumbled.
“No problem, ladies.
The exam room door latched closed behind them. Evangeline undressed quick and changed into the blue cotton hospital gown. She crawled onto the table and forced herself to sit upright. Her stomach growled loud in protest. Dr. Eliza entered the room. A mother’s worry creased her brow.
“What is wrong?” She patted Evangeline. “Don’t you worry, we’ll find whatever’s ailing you”
Evangeline covered her eyes in shame.
She would find it alright!
Eliza left the room. Barking orders to her staff, within minutes, trays lined the examining room. Eliza turned on the faucet and washed her hands.
* * * *
Eliza left the room for a few minutes. She was writing in her chart when she returned.
“Have you been sexually active, Evan?”
“Yes. I’m sexually active,” she grumbled under her breath.
Active my foot! Try sexual deviant!
Evangeline shivered as she thought of Dorien’s hands on her body.
Eliza pursed her lips. Well you have no infections. Can you explain to me why your uterus is measuring the size of a grapefruit?
Evangeline kept her mouth shut. She wasn’t about to say a bloody word.
Eliza wasn’t doing a very good job of keeping the surprise off her face. “Evan, when was the first day of your last period?”
She didn’t want to confess this to her God-mother.
“Evangeline Helena Montgomery! Tell me the date!” Eliza pressed.
“June twenty-second,” she whispered.
Dr. Eliza’s eyebrows rose in unison. She smiled as she helped her Goddaughter from the examination table.
“Evangeline, your urine pregnancy test is positive. You’re pregnant! But I suppose you’ve already suspected this.”
Evangeline’s face fell.
“Get dressed. You girls meet me in room nine. Evan, lay on the table when you get there. Your uterus is measuring a lot larger than it should. You were a twin like your mother. It runs in your family. I want to check to make sure.”
Evangeline groaned.
Eliza performed the ultrasound. The wand of her machine glided over the gel that coated Evangeline’s lower belly. Within seconds, two embryos came into view. The room filled with the galloping sounds of little hearts beating.
“Just as I suspected! You’re going to be the mummy of two little ones!” Eliza smiled. “They look perfect. Wait! What in the…?”
“What?” Taryn and Evangeline said in unison.
Fear gripped Evangeline’s heart. Was she carrying genetic mutants?
“It’s your placenta. It’s too soon to see if it is one or two, but I can’t believe how deep it has embedded into your uterus. It has burrowed twice the depth of what I’m used to seeing. Have you been cramping?”
“Horribly!” Evangeline admitted.
“Based on the ultrasound and the dates you have given me, your twins are due March twenty-ninth. You are eight weeks and two days into your pregnancy. That explains why you’re already showing.”
Evangeline lifted her shirt. Her hand rubbed her swollen belly. How had she not known? Fear gripped her heart. What in the world was Dorien going to say?
The car ride home seemed to take forever. Evangeline could barely see through the blur of tears. She felt the gaze of her best friend watching her.
“Dorien is not going to leave you if that’s what you’re thinking, Evan. Come on, that man is so crazy in love with you.”
Evangeline couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about! He isn’t going anywhere.” Taryn encouraged.
“I just can’t tell him, Taryn. Not yet. I need some time. I don’t think I could live if he left.”
“You don’t have to worry about it right now. You go ahead and take a little time. When you re-group, then you tell him. Everything will be perfect.”
Evangeline nodded. She wiped the tears from her cheeks. “All right. That is what I’ll do,” she sniffed.
Chapter Eighteen
Evangeline hated the sound of the bedroom door closing. Dorien had left for his lessons with Tommy. She liked it so much better when he stayed home and cuddled with her. If only he would turn around and come right back. She needed to get out of bed, but she was just too tired to move. Every bone and muscle in her body felt it. Dr. Eliza was right; the twins took every bit of her energy.
Increasing her food intake and gagging down prenatal vitamins did little to help. The tiny lives inside of her were taking more than her body could replace. Dr. Eliza had promised this phase would soon pass. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could pull off her dirty little secret. Lucky for her, fatigue plagued her more than the morning sickness. Butterfly flutters filled her belly, forcing her to giggle. In instinct, her hand rubbed her growing babies. She already loved them as much as their father. Waves of guilt washed over her, leaving her miserable. How much longer could she keep the news of his children from the man she loved?
The twins were well into their tenth week of development. Dorien accepted her many excuses for the fatigue, bloating, and morning sickness. The culprit: a n
aughty, lingering virus. Her newest dilemma: her belly was growing fast. Dorien was still none the wiser. Evangeline cringed to think how she had perfected the skill of lying. She hated lying, especially to Dorien. If only she had the courage to tell him the truth. But time was not on her side. She would have to tell him soon.
How had Dorien not figured it out? Her appetite kept switching from non-existent to ravenous. He had teased about getting her a feedbag at meals. He still caught her throwing up. Life as a soldier kept him far from any proximity to a pregnant woman. He was clueless to every sign and symptom.
The bedroom door opened and closed. Evangeline smiled in triumph.
Dorien had changed his mind!
Hearing the soft thud of clothes hitting the floor, Evangeline pretended she was still asleep. The springs of the mattress groaned in resistance as he slipped into bed, cuddling behind her. His cold arms wrapped around her body. She moaned at the trail of soft cool kisses traveling down the base of her neck.
Closing her eyes, she allowed him to move her from her side to her back. The softness of the sheet fell away. Her bare breasts peeked out from the security of the covers. His sharp intake of breath made her smile. A hungry growl escaped the back of his throat. The length of his body slid over hers. Her eyes closed tight, Evangeline failed to stifle her giggle. Cold hands encircled her wrists, holding them high above her head.
Spartan Heart, Part One Page 14
